The Phoenix College Health Information Management (HIM) Department is leading the way in supporting national and statewide efforts by preparing students for the electronic health record workforce environment. In April 2004, President Bush requested a "widespread adoption of interoperable electronic health records (EHRs)" within the next 10 years while Governor Janet Napolitano signed an executive order creating a cooperative initiative to achieve this goal in Arizona even sooner.

Beginning in 2006 the Health Information Department subscribed to the ATHENS Electronic Health Record system, an educational version of an industry electronic record developed by the College of St. Scholastica in Duluth, Minnesota.  Phoenix College was the first community college nation-wide to bring this product to its students.  Since then, the Department has transitioned to a Virtual Laboratory offered by the American Health Information Management Association which includes ATHENS plus other electronic products.  Students in ALL health information management programs gain experience using this electronic record in their course of study.